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Clockwise: Nader Moghaddam, CEO of Financial Partners CU and Chairman of the National Credit Union Roundtable; Joe Brancucci, CEO of GTE Financial; Eli Mohamad, CEO of Walkmore; and George Hofheimer, Chief Research and Innovation Officer for Filene Research Institute

WHAT 'JUMIYA' COULD MEAN FOR CUs updated
04/02/14 12:14 PMLeaders Discuss Opportunities, Next Steps
In what could be a revolutionary business model for California, Nevada, and elsewhere, a Florida-based credit union is putting into practice some solid tangibles coming out of a recent discovery: The healthier your members, the better their financial outlook—and the greater opportunity for building exceptional relationships.

“We have a lot of retirees in Florida, but we also have a very young, fit population as well,” said Joe Brancucci, CEO of Tampa Bay-headquartered GTE FCU, which re-branded itself as GTE Financial in 2012. “In California you have similar positives. People want to be fit and healthy, especially baby boomers. There’s a whole culture around it.”

In January, GTE Financial implemented a pilot project that was originally conceived by Singularity University researchers and tested with credit unions in Texas, Washington, Iowa, and Canada. The team was commissioned by the National Credit Union Roundtable (NCUR) in 2012 to help develop a forward-looking roadmap for increasing credit unions’ value to society. Filene Research Institute in Madison, WI, managed the project, named “Jumiya,” which means “union” in Swahili.

Funded by six California credit unions—and 41 others across the nation, as well as five state credit union leagues—the study’s results show that when individuals are healthier, they’re less likely to slide into delinquency, default, or bankruptcy.

“This could be attractive for a number of credit unions, but it would probably have to fit within a credit union’s overall alignment and strategy,” said Nader Moghaddam, CEO of Financial Partners CU and chairman of NCUR, a group of the largest U.S. credit unions that spearheaded the project’s inception. “At our credit union, we’re certainly exploring possible implementation.”

He said a national announcement with specifics on how credit unions can apply the Jumiya concept is coming sometime in 2014.

Keeping financial difficulties at bay is where the heart of GTE Financial’s “Get Fit” program comes into play. Members can use a smartphone app to track how much they walk every day, merging the results into their account online. They can redeem “steps” for rewards, so more steps equal more incentives, such as special coupons to local businesses or cash.

“In January and February, our members logged 78.7 million steps, or about 39,350 miles,” Brancucci said. “We’re also trying to attract a younger set of members with this. So far, they think it’s the coolest thing since sliced bread.”

Although “Get Fit” was created to add value to current members, the program is attracting new members almost daily.

As of March, GTE Financial was the only credit union in the country officially rolling out a customized version for its members with the help of Walkmore, a company headquartered at NASA Research Park near Mountain View, CA, and located on the same campus as Singularity University.

To read the full story and gain a deeper look at what “Jumiya” revealed to credit unions, click here!

ANTICIPATING THE CFPB’S FIRST VISITupdated
03/30/15 10:38 AMSchoolsFirst FCU Discusses Preparation
The fact that examiners from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are expected to walk through the doors of
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union’s headquarters in Santa Ana sometime this year is not only “a first” for California’s
largest cooperative financial institution, it’s a landmark event for the state’s entire credit union industry.

CA MEDIA JUMP ON LEAGUE DATAupdated
03/27/15 01:58 PMImpressive Story Coverage
The California credit union system has gained substantial momentum in local media outlets in recent months. Among the top topics covered by publications is the California Credit Union League's strong fourth quarter lending data.

HARRY REID TO RETIRE IN 2016updated
03/27/15 01:11 PMServed Senate Since 2005
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will not seek re-election in 2016, he said in an interview with the New York Times. He has led the Senate democrats since 2005 and has had a three-decade congressional career.

FIRST CU REG. RELIEF BILL PASSEDupdated
03/26/15 09:21 AMH.R. 299 Approved by Committee
The House Committee on Financial Services passed H.R. 299—the Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions Act—granting privately-insured credit unions access to the Federal Home Loan Bank. The bill now moves to House floor for consideration hopefully before June.

FIs TRUSTED OVER RETAILERSupdated
03/25/15 03:00 PMBetter Data Protection
According to a recent Gallup poll, 91 percent of consumers trust credit unions and banks to better safeguard their personal information and keep data secure, compared to less than 70 percent of consumers who trust merchants. More than 11,000 U.S. adults age 18 and older were surveyed for the poll.

GRR IS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAYupdated
03/23/15 10:54 AMCrucial Event for CA State Advocacy
The 2015 Government Relations Rally (GRR) is the most important state legislative event for credit unions in California—
and it’s less than three weeks away. Will you be there to advocate for your credit union?

CEOs TALK RISK, OPPORTUNITY, FUTUREupdated
03/19/15 05:04 PMCheney, Gunderson, and Hernandez
Threats to cybersecurity, defending against card fraud, and remaining relevant to consumers are top concerns for three
credit union CEOs who recently participated on a special panel during a California Credit Union League Orange County
Chapter meeting.

CA CEO TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS updated
03/18/15 10:18 AMAlso, Rep. Royce Reintroduces Bill
Patrick Miller, CEO of CBC FCU testified before today’s House Committee on Financial Services hearing titled “Preserving Consumer Choice and Financial Independence.” Miller was the witness on behalf of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). The bulk of his testimony centered on duplicative compliance burdens, as well as the modifications needed to strengthen the credit union charter.

NCUA WARNS ABOUT PHISHING SCAMupdated
03/18/15 03:00 PM‘National Credit Union’ Con
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has issued a warning to consumers that the agency has received reports of an online phishing scam which uses a website with a logo and a design similar to the agency’s own site in an attempt to convince customers/members to provide information or send money. Click here to read the warning.

SMALL, LARGE CUs MEET AT 'GAC'updated
03/16/15 11:31 AMAlso, Pete Aguilar Fundraiser
Nearly 50 CEOs and professionals from small credit unions and their large-sponsor counterparts attended the Partners in
Advocacy reception last week at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ suite during the 2015 Credit Union
National Association Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).

MCWATTERS MEETS WITH CA, NV LEADERSupdated
03/16/15 10:27 AMCFPB Officials Address Rules
The room was packed last week when National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board Member Mark McWatters made
time to address attendees from California and Nevada during the 2015 Credit Union National Association Governmental
Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C.

CU HILL VISITS: 'TREMENDOUS SUCCESS'updated
03/16/15 01:25 PMKeeps Advocacy Top of Mind
More than 225 colleagues from California and Nevada credit unions joined thousands of their peers at the 2015 Credit
Union National Association Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) last week, making visits to lawmakers’ offices and
meeting with regulatory officials.

COMMITMENT TO SUPP. CAPITAL AND RBCupdated
03/10/15 09:57 AMPlus, Modernizing FOM Limits
Credit union leaders from California and Nevada were surprised and pleased with National Credit Union Administration
(NCUA) Chairman Debbie Matz’s comments from this week regarding the use of supplemental capital for risk-based capital
purposes.

PURCELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED AT 'GAC'updated
03/10/15 07:50 AMHonor ‘Means a Great Deal to Me’
This year’s Kelly J. Purcell Credit Union Memorial Fund Scholarship was awarded to Rebecca Herrigel, a student at the
George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management who will graduate this year with a master’s
degree in political management.

REG. RELIEF HEARING ANNOUNCEDupdated
03/09/15 10:06 AMSignals Many Discussions Ahead
With the opening of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) 2015 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) on March 8, the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues had its first of many announcements.

CEOs JOIN CU HOUSE HALL OF LEADERSupdated
03/09/15 09:30 AMEric Bruen and Joe Schroeder
Desert Valleys FCU CEO Eric Bruen and Ventura County CU President Joe Schroeder were inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders during the Credit Union House meeting, prior to the Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), which began on March 8. Both received this honor for their significant impact on the credit union movement, and are the third and fourth inductees from California since the program’s inception in 2008.

NCUA, CFPB TO MEET CA AND NV LEADERSupdated
03/03/15 09:12 AMRBC, Overdraft, and Other Topics
On board for California and Nevada attendees of the Credit Union National Association’s 2015 Governmental Affairs
Conference (GAC) is a special visit from officials with the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues' hospitality suite.

THREE TOPICS SHAPING ‘GAC’ THIS YEARupdated
03/02/15 05:08 PMData Security Will Top GRR
Next week the Credit Union National Association’s 2015 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) will kick off in
Washington D.C.—a conference that, unlike others, is focused on bringing the credit union message to Congress and the
administration.

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CU CEO RETIRINupdated
03/02/15 04:20 PMHolbrook Served For 36 Years
Evangelical Christian CU's Mark Holbrook will retire in May after 36 years as CEO. He is widely acknowledged for growing the 50-year-old institution to an alliance of more than 11,000 members and ministries in 130 countries.

CUs LEND UNIQUE VOICE TO NEWS MEDIAupdated
03/02/15 02:55 PMStories Garner Spotlight in CA, NV
Only two months into 2015, local news media across California and Nevada are highlighting credit unions’ positive impact
on their communities as the economy continues strengthening and the industry seeks how it can uniquely serve members.

VETERANS MBL BILL INTRODUCEDupdated
02/27/15 01:27 PMService Member Loans Exempt From Cap
This morning, Reps. Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Jeff Miller (R-FL) introduced H.R. 1133, legislation that will help the nation’s veterans establish themselves as small business entrepreneurs. With many service members already credit union members, this new bill would exempt small business loans issued to veterans from the member business lending (MBL) cap.